On The Issues
Colorado Workers and Economy
1
This year, Colorado raised the state minimum wage to $12/per hour. However, no more than $3.02/per hour in tip income may be used to offset the minimum wage of tipped employees. Do you support or oppose action changing how tip income is treated for minimum wage purposes and why?
Support
Comment: We need to ensure all workers in Colorado are guaranteed a reasonable, living wage without relying on tip income. This is a way for some businesses to avoid paying minimum wage to their employees.
2
A 2018 NPR/Marist poll revealed 20 percent of all American workers are contract workers hired to work on a specific project or for a fixed period of time. Do you support or oppose action that would provide gig economy workers access in Colorado to unemployment benefits, workers compensation, etc., and why? Support
Comment: Because otherwise businesses are not operating on a level playing field. Without a level playing field, businesses who do provide benefits to their workers bear the brunt of higher costs, are at an economic disadvantage, and are disincentivized from being good employers. Businesses who don't provide benefits to their workers reduce their costs and, so long as they are okay with treating people this way, gain an economic advantage. Workers are ultimately the people who bear the brunt of these practices. When we build back better, part of that is ensuring businesses have this level playing field.
3
This summer, Governor Polis signed into law a bill that prevents an employer from discriminating, retaliating, or taking adverse action against any worker who raises a concern about workplace health and safety practices or hazards related to a public health emergency. Do you support or oppose enacting similar legislation to protect whistleblowers who sound the alarm about waste, fraud, abuse, corruption, or dangers to public health and safety from employer retaliation? Support
Comment: I voted for this bill and support the idea that we need to protect workers who are willing to speak out from retaliation. Really this type of policy helps everyone. It helps protect all workers from having to tolerate these types of conditions and it keeps all workers safe and helps to keep businesses honest.
Revenue/Taxes
4
The coronavirus pandemic has upended state budgets across the country, including Colorado’s. Do you support or oppose efforts to decouple state taxes from federal taxes and change how Colorado taxes corporations to responsibly raise revenue and why?Support
Comment: And we need to close corporate loopholes which keep many companies from contributing their fair share to our state where they are doing business.
5
The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) prohibits Colorado from raising taxes without voters’ consent. TABOR also prohibits Colorado from establishing a rainy day fund to weather tough economic times. Colorado’s spending on essential services like education and transportation has lagged behind the state’s economic and population growth. Colorado ranks 47th in the nation in per pupil spending. The state also currently lacks funds to enforce labor and other laws in any meaningful way. Do you support or oppose efforts to revise or get rid of TABOR and why? Support
Comment: I support fully repealing TABOR. TABOR has prevented Colorado from being able to adequately fund public education, roads/transportation, and help our most vulnerable citizens. Having served on my local school board for 7 years prior to joining the legislature, one of the reasons I wanted to join the legislature was to help Colorado find a way out of this fiscal thicket we find ourselves in so we can adequately fund needs such as public education. If we are going to be able to move forward as a state, we must move towards TABOR reform and repeal.
Quality and Affordable Healthcare
6
This year, lawmakers introduced legislation to create a public health insurance option for our state. Do you support or oppose creating a public option in Colorado and why? Support
Comment: Absolutely. Health care costs and insurance rates continue to be an issue throughout Colorado (and our country). The public option would be the first step to ensure all Coloradans have access to a reasonably priced health insurance option which meets a minimum set of standards.
7
One 2018 survey of Colorado adults found that more than half (53%) reported being either “worried” or “very worried” about affording the cost of prescription drugs. Do you support or oppose policies that would make prescription drugs more affordable and why? Support
Comment: Absolutely. One of my sons has a medication that costs $1200 per month. When he found that out, we had to talk him into continuing to take his medication. I have a friend whose biologic drug - which is the only thing that keeps him able to function - runs $15,000 per month. These stories are all too common. The consumers are getting the short end of the stick here, and someone is making a ton of money. This is not okay.
Keep Communities Safe during the COVID-19 Pandemic
8
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, some states and localities rushed to grant businesses immunity from civil lawsuits related to the coronavirus. Do you think businesses should be shielded from lawsuits related to COVID-19? Oppose
Comment: I believe businesses are looking for immunity to shield them from skimping on protections. I do believe our laws already protect businesses who take the precautions deemed reasonable by our public health officials. I do not think we should take additional action which could shield those who are not acting in good faith.
Voting Access and Constitutional Reform
9
Do you think Colorado should take additional action to protect low-income and voters of color access to vote? Support
Comment: I think Colorado's voting system is rightfully described as "the gold standard" of election systems. We do know, however, that when people decide the system is good as is and we have arrived, that's when systems can break down. We must be vigilant about protecting the right to vote - especially for marginalized communities - and take action whenever we find issues where we can do better.
10
In past years, legislators have introduced legislation calling for an Article V constitutional convention to address a number of reforms. Do you support or oppose legislation calling for an Article V constitutional convention? Oppose
Comment: My understanding of an Article V constitutional convention is that it would allow for ANY types of constitutional reforms. This is potentially extremely dangerous and politically fraught. While I do believe there are a few things that are less than perfect in our constitution, I do not believe this is the best way to address them.
11
This year, lawmakers introduced legislation that would place for the first time campaign contribution limits on school board candidates. Do you support or oppose this legislation and why? Support
Comment: As a former elected member of a local school board, I do not believe it makes sense to have school board members be the only elected officials in the state who do not have to abide by ANY campaign contribution limits. It is appropriate for all elected offices to have campaign contribution limits.
